Ask Never a Dull Moment

[Anara Dorn]

The wind was warm, the smell of sea salt hung on the air near the coast of Leore. Fish, sweat, and the smell of warm sands were always common around the beaches not far from the eastern coastline. Last night’s storm had broken up after it had made landfall and the whitemaned huntress had made it through the hurricane without losing anything of importance despite having been camped in the woods. The tropics of the Old empire teemed with life and there were few towns that dotted the lands outside the heartland. The open wilds were always better for Anara than a bustling city or a busy marketplace. People made her uncomfortable, they had ever since she had been forced into slavery as a young girl. Most were selfish, cruel, and heartless, willing to place a knife in the backs of anyone who helped them without a second thought.

There were of course, some exceptions Anara had met, her mentor for one. A blightfolk she met in Innsmouth not too long ago. She felt she could trust them, but her mentor was no more. The other she would meet back up with periodically. Anara did crave friends, companionship and the escape from the soul crushing loneliness she had known for years, but her general misanthropy did complicate making them. Friends and killing were her only real goals in life for the moment, a full life to be sure.

She rode Aldritch down a gully, letting his hooves get wet and letting him splash the cool, fresh water on his legs as the pair made their way towards the sea. “I’ve been craving good fish since Innsmouth, maybe I’ll cast a line for a while and you can run.” She said, patting the courser’s black mane affectionately. The aging stallion let out a whiney of approval, excitedly urging faster than the leisurely pace he had been making.

Anara chewed on an honeycomb she had found just after the storm, gnawing it so the sweet honey flavor mixed with her saliva and filled her mouth, then she’d swallow and start the process again. She had managed to salvage a full jar of dark honey from the bee’s nest, but they would not mind. With their home fallen and broken, they would be forced to move elsewhere with their queen and it did little harm for the huntress to take some for herself.

She wore her cloak, white fur covering her shoulders from a feline creature she had slain in the Dawn’s Wall mountains, black cloak draped across her body and Aldritch’s flanks. Her hauberk, a new one since her old one had been damaged and left in a sewer was fine. It had not taken her long to find one that almost fit, and with the help of magic she had fit it to her svelte frame perfectly. Red with gold stitching along the brigandine, black secondaries. She wore black trousers and knee-length leather boots. Her long white hair was clean, a bath out in last night’s storm had helped with washing it and tying it into a tail behind her head.

Aldritch’s hooves clattered upon stones and sunk into sand as the pair emerged out from the beach. Now Anara knew why she smelt sweat. The cawing of gulls and other carrion echoed above the shipwreck, pieces of it torn from the rocks out in the bay, bodies strewn in the shallows along the beach from the unfortunate crew. No flag flew from the broken mast peering up from the water in the pay, and the shattered aftcastle had no signs of national markings. Anara kicked her horse’s sides gently, “Come on, let’s see if they have any treasure worth taking.” Maybe there are survivors? Nah, at least there won’t be by nightfall. The girl smiled, pirates had a way of winding up dead.

Nova Soth

 

[Nova Soth]

After witnessing the destruction of a place she had called home, Nova had been thrown on board a ship by her new master. Moving from port to port, the slave had started to fall into a daily routine. Her new master was not a nice man and did malicious things to her on purpose. In his attempt to break her or make her lash out. This was not in her personality and she continued to live in shame with him.

He did not allow her to leave the ship and demanded she earned her passage. The hair she had kept short, had grown out and was now down to the middle of her back. It also looked rather uneven and unkempt. Her once decent clothes were starting to fade and grow thin in places. However, the condition of her clothes really didn't bother her. In fact, these were more than what she was used to.

Nova had heard that sometimes actions came back to haunt the person that did bad things. That appeared to be the case when the storm struck. Strong winds, high waves, and heavy rain turned the voyage into a nightmare. Even the strongest sailor was having a difficult time, let alone the blond that had never been to sea before.

"Close all the portholes and batten down the hatches. Bring in the sails before we get overturned!"

The fire mage was essentially helpless in this situation. As the only person on board that wasn't a sailor, she was shoved below deck and locked in the captain's quarters. Thankfully, he was not present and she was alone. Without having to worry about his very much unwanted attention, she sat down on the dry, warm bed.

Producing a puny ball of flame to help keep herself warm, the storm raged on around the ship. At the moment, the woman was miserable but she was drying off. Taking a deep breath, the slave closed her eyes. This peaceful moment lasted a few heartbeats before there was a shudder. Hearing yelling from above, she heard the sound of alarm in the voices.

This alarm came too late. There was a loud crunching noise at the helm and under the ship as it hit the shoal. Losing the focus she had on the flame, darkness surrounded her. Lightning flashed and revealed a huge tsunami heading directly at the beach the ship had been grounded on.

Taking hold of the nearest sturdy item, Nova knew there was a very good chance she wouldn't survive the next few minutes, let alone the night. Seconds ticked by, silence and then darkness...

Anara Dorn

 

[Anara Dorn]

Aldritch plodded through the sand at a leisurely pace, kicking up a small cloud behind him. He wanted to splash in the waves but Anara kept him from going just yet, not keen on getting saltwater in her boots. A few bodies had already washed ashore, the stench of sea and death heavy on the air, filling her nostrils. The whitemaned huntress swung down from her saddle and let her steed roam free, his form prancing off into the shallows where the water touched his ankles while she moved to the first corpse.

He was a middle aged man, his skin pocked by the sea and stained by the sun for many long years. His lungs were full of water, she could feel it slosh in him as she rolled him from his stomach. Her hands searched his pockets and pouches, taking the handful of copper coins he had to add to her own. Without a care she went to the next body, a half-elf similarly beleaguered by many years at sea, searching his pockets and pouches, stealing his boots as well as it appeared that they might fit her. Anara grunted, noting she did have rather large feet for her size, tough calluses stuck out on her big toes and rough skin clung to her feet after having wandered the wastes barefoot for years. Boots were a luxury she could live without.

The huntress made her way to the next body, still floating face down in the shallows. He was a young sort, a piece of driftwood piercing his stomach. She dragged on his vest, pulling the man out of the water. He did not look much like a seafarer. Perhaps a merchant, but he was a boy barely her own age. Anara began rifling through his pockets and the boy coughed out sea water, groaning and letting out a cry of pain as he attempted to roll and pressed weight against the injury. He was dead, he just didn’t know it yet. The wood had stuck his guts, leaked their sewage into his blood and wound. If the bloodloss didn’t get him in the next half hour the sepsis would over the next few days. Anara grunted, putting a comforting hand on his chest, “Lay still.” Her bright blue eyes fell over the wound, inspecting it carefully and thoroughly.

He smiled up at her scarred face, trying to hide his surprise at her appearance. She bore scars of her last battle, deep furrows carved into her pale pink face, from forehead to chin she carried the claw marks of a powerful vampire, but she paid these temporary badges of honor no mind. She usually forgot they were there. “How does it look?” He asked, his eyes full of hope. She had potions and herbs, and maybe those would keep him alive for another day or two, but unless she pumped all her potions and magic into maybe saving him long enough to get to a surgeon, he would still probably be dead. He had long odds even if a hero had come across him. Unfortunately he wouldn’t get to roll those dice.

Her wrist flicked out, catching him in the throat with her knife blade before he could put his hands up to guard himself. Blood gurgled in his throat as he tried to cry out, to scream one last desperate plea to the gods, to his friends, to anyone who could help him. But no one was coming. “Looks like you’re dead, I just made it hurt less.” Anara said, her face emotionless, no compassion, no pleasure. In truth it felt terrible, hardly the thrill and the sensation of power that came with her hunting. No, it was like cleaning up dog shit off one’s boot.

Still, it had to be done.

He went limp, and her hands went back to pulling out his coins and stuffing them in her own pouch. Anara pulled a silk sash out from around him, stained with salt water and some dried blood, but still a fine garment. She tossed it over one shoulder and stood over the freshly made corpse, stepping past the young boy and making her way further down the beach. A few more bodies searched and she decided to check out a piece of wreckage that had made it into the bay. Anara whistled so Aldritch would stay in her vicinity and made her way across some stones in the shallows until she could jump to the broken wooden structure.

It was merely a piece of the lower deck, seemed to be the forecastle but missing the top section, likely dashed across the reef further out from the bay by the storm. “Must have been a bad one,” The huntress grunted, stooping to enter the damaged hull. Inside was yet another body, a tall red haired woman laying half submerged and half wrapped around a beam, clinging to it for dear life. Rigor had probably set in. Anara noted that what rags she wore were basically shreds rendering the woman naked, but she knew that life fairly well. She’d lived it herself years ago as a child. “Maybe you’ve got some jewels for me.” Anara muttered to herself more than the unconscious woman as she knelt beside her.

Thump… Thump…

It was faint, but Anara’s ears heard a heartbeat from the naked redhead. She let out a sigh, pressing her hand to the woman’s throat, feeling the artery amidst the muscles. Alive, weak, but alive. And no jewels worth having. The huntress held her hand in front of the woman’s nose and felt the wet, exhalation, the tell tale signs of a person slowly drowning. She grimaced, reluctance in her mind. <Just a moment of trying, then mercy kill the thing.> Her hands braced over the woman’s sternum and pumped a few times before Anara knelt down and affixed her lips against the redhead’s own, pushing breath into her throat and lungs. <If this does not work, may whatever gods you believe in have mercy on you.>

Nova Soth

 

[Nova Soth]

The fates of the crew were unknown to the slave but the woman had already accepted her death. As Anara searched along the beach, she remained sleeping with her hug of death on the beam she had found the night before. Not being in any state of mind to notice the chill that was creeping into her body, she drew in ragged breaths.

Her skin was cold but her heart was beating her blood through her body and breathing was difficult. As if she wasn't getting quite enough oxygen. Yet, she was strong enough and made it through the worst of it. Nothing was within her control and mother nature did all the work.

It was in this condition she was found by Anara. An almost dead and naked slave. Without being aware, her body reacted like a ragdoll being tossed about but did eventually lay flat on her back.

With each compression, some water would come out of Nova's mouth and drain away. After this happening two or three times, she started to wake up. Feeling the warm breath and lips around hers, she reacted. It was very weak but what she thought of as a kiss was given to the woman above her.

Opening her eyes, she saw the white hair and tried to pull away. Since she was already about as low she could go, all she did was wiggle a little. Drawing in a deep breath for what felt like for the first time in her life, she turned her head and vomited. Bile and water came out and rolled down her cheek. Keeping her head turned away, Nova remained almost motionless as she just laid there and breathed.

When she felt considerably better, she started shivering. Nova was not the kind to feel odd about being naked but the chill seemed to go bone-deep and she couldn't get warm. On top of that...even though she had just vomited up water, she was quite thirsty.

In an unfamiliar voice, she asked for water and turned her head to look at her rescuer.

"Who are you?"

This was in the same voice and she didn't feel like she could move at all. Blinking a few times, she did try and ended up laying back down.

Anara Dorn

 

[Anara Dorn]

Anara’s warm lips met with the naked woman’s cool lips and breathed a breath into her, however she had not expected to be welcomed with a weak, if wanting kiss from the woman. But Anara was no prude and far be it from the huntress to deny a woman a moment of passion, she kissed the woman back without hesitation, the savior's tongue slipping into the rescued woman’s mouth, even if only for a moment.

The survivor wiggled and turned away, vomiting up bile and sea water, or at least the rest of it that had been trapped in her lungs or stomach. Anara sat up from lurching over the poor woman and took better stock of the slave girl. The huntress smiled and wiped her mouth on her sleeve, grinning while the woman shivered beneath her, “I appreciate your enthusiasm. Don’t always get a thank you like that.” Anara muttered with a mischievous smile on her scarred face, the deep cuts and pink lines from hairline to chin clearly visible even without lantern light. In truth, Anara likely looked like some kind of murderer, her blade was still wet with the young man's blood and held loosely in her dominant hand.

The huntress held out a waterskin for the naked woman to take, though for an instant she held it just out of reach, amused devilry across her scarred features, and then she offered it up. “Here. Don't mean to interrupt your honeymoon, but everyone else seems to be dead.” The woman was on the tall side, a voluptuous figure, curvy in all the right places with a pretty face, excellent cheekbones and nice auburn red-brown hair. Sapphire eyes looked the woman over then met back with her brown ones. There was no lust in her expression, but Anara would not deny that the woman was lovely.

“You tell me first. Who are you, and was it worth my time to save you?” The code she had memorized told her that any life not known to be one of evil was worth saving, but those were just words. There was none of her spirit in the old words of her master’s code, but he had always enjoyed hearing her repeat them and he had given her everything she had.

Nova Soth

 

[Nova Soth]

For just a moment, Nova held onto the kiss before turning her head and vomiting. Hearing the smile in the voice of the woman that rescued her, she turned her head around to look at her. Seeing she had moved away from being directly above. Looking at her without fear, the slave did not feel Anara was going to harm her. What would be the point of saving her life if she was only going to end it?

Accepting the water, she held her hand out weakly before Anara handed it to her. Moving slowly, she took a sip and spat it out after rinsing her mouth. Then, she took an actual drink. With a shivering hand, she handed it back to the white-haired woman.

Shaking her head with great care, she denied this being a honeymoon.

"My master is dead?"

There were no tears involved with this question and there might even be a sense of relief. Once she felt confident she could rise, she tried again. Managing to roll over onto her side, she laid there to gather up more energy. Listening to what Anara asked, she sighed before answering.

"My name is Nova and I hail from Cathwa. You own me now. So my life what you feel it is worth."

Finally gaining additional energy, she finished rolling over and pushed her body up slowly. As she sat on her rear end, she wrapped her bare arms around her legs to try and keep at least a little warmer.

Anara Dorn

 

[Anara Dorn]

The poor woman sputtered and barely accepted the water, sipping on it just a little before passing it back. She was weak, probably not just from the storm given that she was naked and heavy rain didn’t exactly melt clothing off under normal circumstances and she was shivering, likely hungry as well given that the contents of her stomach were now on the deck around them.

The woman spoke and Anara smiled, the fates did have some fortune if it would kill a slave owner but leave the slave alive and relatively healthy. “Well that’s good, shame I didn’t get to gut him though.” The huntress announced, wiping her knife on the sleeve of her coat before sheathing it at her waist.

Nova, the woman called herself, a slave from Cathwa, as apparently there was no corner of the world without the capture and forced labor of others. Such was the evil of man, Anara thought, grunting as she stood up from her crouched position, stretching by raising her arms and pulling them behind herself. And now she thought that because Anara had saved her, or at least been present when she woke that the huntress had any claim to her.

“No.” The snow-maned girl growled, “Your life ain’t worth shit to me, but your master is dead. So that makes you free, doesn’t it?” The words fell from her mouth angrier than what she had wanted, but she was not going to own a slave nor was she going to be called master or mistress or whatever else by anyone but a lover who she was ravishing at the time. Anara turned to make her way from the broken piece of the shipwreck, stepping out from under the wooden ceiling and into the bright sunlight. Her mind raced, what to do with the woman. Leave her and be done with it.

The words of the code her master had drilled into her brain echoed around, even if she did not believe in them, did not feel the code in her soul as he had. She could not simply leave the woman behind though. Anara let out a long sigh, her shoulders drooping and head leaning down against her chest. “Well, you staying here or are you coming with me? I’ve got some food I can share I guess, a tent and a bedroll to share for when night falls.”

Nova Soth

 

[Nova Soth]

Watching as Anara stretched and put her knife away, she wrapped her arms around herself trying to get warm. The chill seemed to all the way through to her bones and the shivers continued. If she had the strength to pull away, she would have when Anara mentioned killing her master. It was a thought that had never crossed her mind. All she could manage was a shake of her head.

"Why would I do that to a person that gives me food and clothes? Not that I have many of those left."

Finding the ability to stand, she used the beam of what would have been the doorframe of the cabin to get to her feet. Holding onto the wood, she was shocked by what Anara said about her value.

"This is the only life I have known. For as long as I can remember. Answering to my masters. How can I be free? You found and saved me, you now own me. Right?"

Keeping the word of master out of her statement, it was still heavily implied. When Anara asked if she was going to follow her, she nodded and started to walk. Clearly, it was a bit little difficult and the normally graceful woman was certainly not that.

That grace could still be seen but it was obvious the slave was weak. At the mention of food, she perked up a lot and attempted to hurry her steps to catch up with Anara.

"What name can I call you?"

Again obviously not speaking the word of master, the subservient attitude of Nova remained.

Anara Dorn

 

[Anara Dorn]

Anara grunted with some annoyance, but she had seen the type from her cage or while being led around on a collar by her own captors. Some people were born into servitude, it was all they knew and all they aspired to know. They either lacked ambition or had it beaten out of them when they were young through humiliation, indoctrination, or that it was simply all they had. It was who they were to serve another. And now, for Nova, that other person was Anara. The girl’s mind raced, she could not simply leave the woman, nor could she ditch her at the nearest town. That was merely pawning the responsibility she had stumbled upon on someone else, and likely would just land the girl in the service of another master.

“Clothes are alright,” the snow-maned huntress commented, remembering her own several years naked in the forests, “Keeps bugs off at the very least.” Mud, sticks, and leaves had been all she had for more than a few months and the winter months were the worst. In fact it was near the beginning of winter when she had finally made friends with Gaius and let him take her in from the cold.

“I don’t know how you can be free.” She answered, more than a little frustrated in her tone, though at herself for not being equipped to answer the question than in disgust for one trapped in chains. She had always hated the collar and the shackles, had plotted her captors’ deaths many nights and attempted her own death on two separate occasions without success. She had cried out to every god in heaven and hell to release her, but no one ever came. It wasn’t until chance had infected her with Lycanthropy that she had finally been given the power to escape on her own. But she had always coveted the freedom of others, even when she fetched their food and drink, cleaned their camps, and washed the piss from her hair. On some days she had craved it more than blood. “But I don’t own people.”

Anara stopped where the path to the shore was uneven and difficult to trespass, turning to help the young woman out of the wreckage where steps could be treacherous and unsteady with an outstretched hand. “You are free now, but I’ll take care of you for a while if you’d like.” The girl sighed, somewhat exasperated and somewhat pitiful as she aided Nova to the shore. Aldritch was galloping around not far away, splashing his hooves in the shallows and stretching his legs with a run around the beach. “At least until you decide to find something else. Call me Anara.” the woman smiled at Nova warmly, or as warm as she could manage.

The black stallion pranced up to the snow-maned woman when they got ashore, some sand and sea water on his legs and flanks where he had been excitedly running off some pent up energy, whinnying loudly and shaking his head and mane. “Now, we need to get away from here before bandits show up to loot the place, but we will stop to make camp soon. Aldritch is strong enough for us both I think.” The horse pawed at the sand and dipped his head with a snort, as she patted his thick neck. The girl reached into her saddle bags, withdrawing a small ration pack for the woman with her, just a simple meal with hardtack, some dried berries she had found a few days ago, and a couple pieces of rabbit jerky. “Here.”

Nova Soth

 

[Nova Soth]

"I wasn't suggesting I actually needed clothes!"

Scrambling after Anara, the slave tried to take back the words she had just said.

"All I meant was I need something to warm up with. Clothes were the first thing that came to mind."

Almost feeling like she had been slapped, Nova was being subservient again and only looking at where she was placing her feet. Not wanting to fall or lose her balance, it took her a few moments to notice Anara was holding a hand out to help her.

When she said she didn't own people, it stopped Nova up short and she finally saw the hand waiting for her. Accepting the help, she returned the smile and nodded when a name was provided.

"Thank you, Mas...Anara. I would like that very much."

After all the time she had spent being a servant, she could very likely survive on her own. That did not cross her mind though and she still like a slave. Even though Anara said she was free, she did not know what to do with that. At the suggestion of her finding something else, she looked slightly thoughtful.

Looking around at the wreckage of the ship when it was mentioned bandits might show up soon, there was another small shiver from Nova. Deep in her mind was a hidden and buried memory of her helping to set up camp as a young girl and being raided by bandits. They took her prisoner and made her a slave. This memory was so deep, even she didn't actually remember it on a conscious level.

"You want me to ride that?"

Pulling away from Anara a little, the blond looked up at the horse with a bit of fear mixed with confusion on her face. Food was put into her hands and she started eating like it had been days since her last meal. However, she never really looked at the food as she ate it.

"How?"

Anara Dorn

 

[Anara Dorn]

“That is what one does with horses, yes.” Anara answered without looking back at the blonde woman, busy pulling a spare jacket from her saddle bags and tossing it towards Nova. It was a well made piece of clothing, red leather exterior, with darker cloth lining, designed to keep snow and rain from soaking the wearer, long enough to reach the thighs of the woman. It was made for Anara, who was more lithe and less busty than Nova, but it was still something to wear even if the fit did not sit well. It was not armored, but padded to provide some protection during a fight.

“We will ride for a few hours and then make camp. You’ll need a proper meal and rest, and I promised Aldritch that I wouldn’t work him hard today already.” The ivory haired woman did cast a scornful glance at Nova as the woman began to call her master, but brightened at the correction, deciding not to comment on it. An error corrected was no mistake in the end.

Anara clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, making a clucking sound. The big black stallion, whinnied with annoyance, shaking his head but did as she had desired, kneeling down on his front legs to lower himself so that it would be easy to mount him for the girls. “Aldritch here,” the huntress patted his neck affectionately as she spoke about the horse, “Is well trained and well behaved, so there is nothing to worry about from him.” Some horses were wild, bucked, or kicked but Aldritch was good to Anara. Others, not so much. He was a stubborn, opinionated animal bred for war and combat, but to those that took care of him he was a valiant friend.

“So, what is it you do? Your hands are not rough enough to be a field hand.” The poor girl was naked, so Anara already had a good idea what she was used for by the people who proclaimed themselves to be civilized, but that did not mean such acts were the sum of all her talents.

Anara slung herself up into the saddle with practiced ease, using the stirrup as a step-up and the saddle horn to hoist herself. Once she was situated, slid back on the saddle to make space for her new found companion, the woman reached downwards to help Nova up. “Just take my hand, step your right foot up on my foot there, and swing your other leg up over his neck so you don't kick me. Then just sit here in my lap.” The woman patted her legs with a soft smile indicating where the freed slave would sit. "I'll show you the rest once you are up here with me."

Nova Soth

 

[Nova Soth]

For most of her life, horses had usually been used as pack animals and not ridden. This was a change for the former slaver and as she ate the food, she just stared up at it until a coat was given to her. Turning away from the horse, there might even have been a few tears in her eyes as she accepted the item. Figuring out the top from the bottom, she slid into the warm coat quickly. It mattered little to her that it didn't fit properly. Her skin was no longer cold and she could feel some warmth starting to return.

It took Nova a few minutes to actually stop shivering but eventually, she did and was able to pay attention to what Ana was saying. They would ride for a few hours and make camp. She nodded along with this and almost sighed when she mentioned rest. Even though she had sort of been sleeping for many hours, it had not been anything good or pleasant.

"A pleasure to meet you, Aldritch."

Reaching out a tentative hand to try and pet his muzzle. If he allowed it, she would comment on how soft it was and waited until they were on top before answering Ana.

"I am a slave, Anara. I know how to be a servant. Cook food, clean and provide pleasure. Both physically and visually. I'll show you tonight at the camp."

Following the instructions of the woman she felt was her new master, she made herself as comfortable as she could on the saddle with her.

Anara Dorn

 

[Anara Dorn]

The horse was an old, stubborn beast, having served Anara for all of her adult life and before that time having been a Legion steed, but he was trusting of Anara. She had already mounted him and had him kneel down, so he was accepting of Nova’s touch, rubbing his muzzle against her hand offering a whinney once Nova was done, shaking his head and his mane.

Anara helped Nova up and then they were both in the saddle together, Anara wrapped her arms around the woman, hands taking up the reins and resting on Nova’s thighs. She clicked her heels gently into the creature’s side and Aldritch stood back up from the sandy beach and started away with a slow trot, bouncing the girls around slightly, turning south towards Noria.

“You were a slave.” The huntress corrected, noting the little bit of sass that had escaped Nova’s lips. Surely it was a slip of the tongue or unintentional, but it was good to know the former slave had a little bite left in her, even if it was only a little bit. Anara made herself comfortable in the saddle with the extra rider, who was a little taller than she was, and not as lithe in figure but it was easy. "Now you are my friend. Hopefully I am yours as well."

“You have a nice arse, and you are quite beautiful,” Anara began, resting her chin on the former slave’s shoulder, squeezing her legs against the woman's legs ever so slightly, “If you ached to be with me physically, felt a need for me between your thighs, I would accommodate.” She smiled, breathing softly and lowering her voice as she spoke into Nova’s ear.

“Until then we can split up the camp chores when we stop. I’ll get firewood and see about hunting something while you get the tent and bedroll put up, then we’ll cook something to eat and you can show me some things if you want.”

Anara mused for a moment, “What is your favorite meal, Nova?” Anara made a point of saying her name, hoping it was different for the girl. When she had been a slave, her owners had almost never called her by name, usually slave, girl, or some other moniker meant to demean and dehumanize her. “If we can’t make it tonight, I’ll get it for you when we get to town.”

Nova Soth

 

[Nova Soth]

Leaning back against Anara, the woman that still considered herself to be a slave bounced around as the horse trotted. Closing her eyes for a moment, Nova turned her head slightly and looked at her almost owner out of the corner of her eye. Confusion crossed her face and looked away.

"What is a friend? I don't remember having any? So yes, you are. Does that mean I own you? No, that's not right. I don't understand..."

Maybe deep down inside she did but it was a memory buried so far away that Nova just couldn't entirely comprehend what a friend really was. When Anara continued speaking, the reaction Nova had was as natural as breathing to her. In a manner similar to what happened when Anara breathed life back into her lifeless body, it reacted in the same way.

Tilting her head to allow greater access to her neck and ears, she leaned further back and waited for Anara to continue. Time would tell if this was something real for Nova or if it was something learned. Her savior pulled away after making her offer and it seemed like Nova might have been disappointed.

Listening to what else was said, this was something the slave was familiar with.

"I grew up moving from camp to camp. So none of this is going to an issue for me...Anara."

There was a clear pause in her speech but the word master had not even started to come out of her mouth this time. Then a question was asked of her. Lowering her eyebrows a little, she was silent.

"I usually only had what was left over after my owners had eaten. I have no idea. Sweets! I love those."

It wasn't dinner but it was what she liked best.

"What about you?"

Anara Dorn

 

[Anara Dorn]

“A friend is someone you care about for no other reason than you want to. A favored companion.” Anara answered without hesitating and with a cold dispassionate voice. Friends she could have, she could make on her own. Love was another matter entirely. It struck the huntress that Nova probably understood love, actual love, better than she ever would.

The young slave woman reacted expectedly to Anara’s flirtatious and coy attitude, swiftly arching her neck so that it could be kissed and leaning into the huntress’s body with her own. Anara almost regretted pulling away, but for now, there was no request for such a passionate embrace.

“Good. I prefer to camp instead of staying in towns and cities so that works best for me.” They were loud, ugly, and smelt terrible, bothering her sensitive nostrils with the smell of the teeming masses sweat and excrement. “I like sweets too, chocolate is good. Though I prefer sugar coated strawberries the most.” The former slaves were both fans of their sweets, though Anara hid her true answer for it would likely be unsettling for the young woman. It bothered others when she ate her favorite meals. An animal still warm from life as she tore the first bites from its flesh with her teeth, its blood running down her chin and filling her mouth. That was her real favorite meal, and though she had never eaten a person in her human form she remembered the taste upon the Wolf’s lips as vividly as she could smell the sea salt upon Nova’s skin.

“I share my food, my clothes if needed, though my trousers won’t fit you. Except I don’t drink on the trail, but you may partake if it suits you. The only things you may not touch are my satchel, my sword, and my amulet.” The woman said, no coldness or threat in her voice but it was firm declaration.

“Here,” Anara said with a grin, holding her hands up in front of Nova, “take the reins from me to guide him. If you pull this way,” she tugged the reins gently to the left, Aldritch turned his head and then his body to the left, shifting his path, “He follows, and the other way as well.” Anara demonstrated again, straightening the beast back out on his path.

Nova Soth